Saturday, February 18, 2012

Rosy-Finches at Sandia Crest, New Mexico

There are many benefits to living in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area. One of the more delightful benefits for birders living here is being able in the winter months to see Rosy-Finches at Sandia Crest outside of Albuquerque. Sandia Crest at 10,600 feet is an easy 45 minute drive from the Albuquerque Metro area. It is one of the few places in the United States where it is possible to see all three species of Rosy-Finches. There is feeding station for Rosy-Finches at the Sandia Crest House at the top of the road up to Sandia Crest It is possible to park, walk into the Crest House, buy hot chocolate and wait inside in cozy warmth waiting for the birds to appear. And appear they do. At intervals throughout the day, a flock of more than 100 Rosy-Finches appear in the trees and at the feeders.

Rosy-Finches flock to the Piñon trees around the deck at the Crest House

They "stage" their approach to the feeder on the deck by gathering in the bare aspen trees below the deck.

The flock stages in the bare trees below the feeder.

When the Rosy-Finches come to the feeder, the activity and the beauty of the birds is almost overwhelming.

The individual birds are lovely:

A Black Rosy-Finch flies to the feeder.

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch

Black Rosy-Finch

There is a banding program most Sundays when the Rosy-Finches are at Sandia Crest. The birds are trapped, banded, weighed, measured and released.

Abert's Squirrels lurk in the trees waiting to approach the feeder and share in the birdseed feast.

Abert's Squirrel in a tree near the deck.

The squirrels are very large and plump from a steady diet of bird seed.

An Abert's Squirrel forages on the deck below the feeder.

Sandia Crest is a wonderful place to see Rosy-Finches. It is a "must-do" birding area. You can find out more about the Rosy Finches on the Rosy-Finch Forum. If the flag in the upper right corner of the page is waving, the Rosy-Finches have arrived!

Linda, fabulous action images and close-ups of the Rosy Finches! They really are lovely birds. What a joy it must be to see all of them feeding at once. The Steller's Jay capture is indeed stellar. Sandia Crest looks like a wonderful place to visit. Superb post!

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